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As April slowly meanders into Spring, we find ourselves in what is arguably the high season in Kentucky.  The charm and gentility of the Keeneland Spring meet morphs into the pomp and circumstance of the Kentucky Derby and the Kentucky Oaks.  Both are instrumental to Kentucky’s claim of being the “horse capital of the world.  Today Rotarians are privileged to hear about both, from two individuals who, as they say, should know:  Gabby Gaudet, Keeneland’s, Director of Communications, and respected broadcaster Tom Leach.   A respected voice in Thoroughbred racing with more than a decade of national media experience, Gaudet, who joined Keeneland in 2025, oversees Keeneland’s ...

Being the informed citizens that Rotarian tend to be, it is likely no surprise to our membership that America has an affordable housing crisis. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), there is a national shortage of over seven million affordable homes for more than 10.8 million extremely low-income families. Why does this matter? Again according to the NLIHC, housing is “the key to reducing intergenerational poverty and increasing economic mobility.” Today’s presenter, Ed Holmes, will make it clear that Lexington/Fayette County is not immune from this crisis. As you will hear, we have a housing gap of over 22,549 units!  He will dig into ...

Tina N. Nance, J.D., is the Executive Director of the Kentucky Aerospace Education Center (KAEC). A native of Madisonville in western Kentucky, Tina earned her B.A. in Psychology from Transylvania University and her J.D. from the University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law. Prior to leading KAEC, Tina held key roles at the Governor’s Scholars Program and at Transylvania University, where she developed and led initiatives supporting student engagement and academic excellence, while also taking a leading role in fundraising and donor relations. The Kentucky Aerospace Education Center (KAEC), home of the Aviation Museum of Kentucky and the Commonwealth’s official home ...

Since December 2004, Darlene Thomas has served as the Founder and Executive Director of GreenHouse17, an advocacy organization working to end intimate partner abuse across seventeen central Kentucky counties. With more than thirty-six years of experience in the movement to end power-based violence, Darlene has led efforts in direct service, comprehensive program development, and community engagement for lasting social change. Her leadership includes guiding statewide and national collaborations, offering expert testimony in legal cases, facilitating trainings at local, state, national, and international forums, and consulting with organizations seeking to reimagine their services through innovative, trauma-informed approaches. Under her direction, GreenHouse17 has ...

Join us for a fun meeting with Country Boy Brewing! We'll hear how they started and about their community outreach. And, we'll have a tasting! Daniel “DH” Harrison was born and raised in Scott County, Kentucky. Having attended Georgetown College, DH fell in love with Craft Beer in Japan while teaching English on an exchange program.  Upon returning to the U.S., he partnered with three other native Kentuckians to begin the first taproom model brewery in Lexington in 2012, Country Boy Brewing. DH has been a champion for Craft Beer in Kentucky. Serving on the board of the Kentucky Guild of ...

Since being tabbed Kentucky’s head coach in December 2004, Craig Skinner has rejuvenated the Kentucky volleyball program into national prominence and is the program’s all-time winningest head coach. He will enter his 22nd season in 2026 with an all-time record of 497-157. He reached the pinnacle of the sport in April of 2021, winning the 2020 NCAA National Championship at the CHI Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska, becoming coach of the first volleyball team in Southeastern Conference history to win a national championship. He was named the AVCA’s National Coach of the Year in 2020-21. Skinner has directed the Wildcats to ...